He's probably thinking to himself "If Bridge can make the ABs...."

There's two outstanding number 8s in the country that are both excellent lineout exponents. If you had either of them at 8 you wouldn't need to shoehorn in a lock at 6.

At least he won't get benched now.

@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Bones Those stats only say something about where a player starts. It doesn't give info about a player changing position during a game as a result of substitutions.

We're talking about starting aren't we?

To me starting at 6 is what's weird about his selection. It means either Retallick & Whitelock play the full game or one is replaced by a SB who's played 6 since kick-off.

I think that's the hardest part to swallow for me - after all the talk of the 6's, as well as Vaai playing 6 (presumably at Foster's suggestion) and excelling, we go back to a guy who should be starting at lock and hasn't exactly set the world on fire at 6.

What also annoys me is it takes away another chance to see a young player get some game time.

Vaai was a bolter in 2020 - went better than expected - and has barely been sighted in black since.

Grace picked in 2020 - one test off the bench for a handful of minutes I think (the Bledisloe loss in Brisbane) - never seen again.

Sotutu barely played last year - Hodgman picked and discarded - De Groot picked and discarded - Peter Umaga Jensen impressive cameo then never seen again.

Meanwhile nearly 3 years after the RWC 2019 semi we roll out a forward pack that is pretty damn close to our forward pack then.

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2022:

Christ on a bike, how good would

12 Laumape

look right now.

Considering he did nothing at test level not very?

Ardie Savea saying in his press conference today that he didn't know that the All Blacks had never lost to Ireland in NZ before Saturday.

Seriously wtf?

A senior leader in the team and the ABs home record isn't touched upon at all in the leadup to the series?

What the hell is going on with the AB culture?

The ref saw Bridge so that ruled out the try option.....

@Dan54 said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:

Taukei’aho didn't have the impact in the Ireland tests that he had last year. I can also understand them not starting Coles, who hasn't played much at all, this year. So in that light, starting Taylor makes a lot of sense. I don't think he's been as bad as people are posting here.

Yep almost seems some players are more effective against super defences etc huh Star?

But Samisoni is effective at test level.

He was effective on the weekend.

He got 25 minutes off the bench when were one man down and made the most running metres of any AB forward in the game.

What a moment.

What a team.

What an era.

Legends.

Sitting through the Black Ferns v Wallaroos XVs game was an absolute treat compared to sitting through the 2018 Blues season.

@Bones said in Otago v Canterbury:

What's with the white socks?

I think it's part of the breast cancer awareness week as it's happened in both other games today (one team full pink socks - one team white).

Talk about a game of two halves.

Peita making a mockery of the coaches. How can you go a whole season playing two 7s while Peita a player much better suited to 6 just gets bugger all game time.

Good signs from young Fusita at prop in the second half.

Good to see RTS at 14 - tough game to tell but the odd time he had space he looked better.

Lam continues to show his class.

Would be tipping Harbour next week in the quarter.

@taniwharugby said in Southland v North Harbour:

Nice try...Manson has some wheels!

10.8 100 metre time 😳

A set piece beauty.

NH - Auckland at Albany quarterfinal would be fun.

Someone tell Parsons he doesn't have to yell

@Chris said in Auckland v Taranaki:

Referee: Brendon Pickerill

Get ready for a stop start affair haha.

What was the point of naming the 7s players Che Clark and Caleb Tangitau in the Auckland squad if they were never going to play (busy with Comm Games 7s then RWC 7s)?

@Frye said in All Blacks 2022:

His best bet to make the RWC squad is to play 14 (or at least 15) for the Blues.

Just because someone is a fullback in league doesn't mean they are suited to fullback in rugby. Different requirements. Pushing Zarn and Perofeta out of 15 would have been a huge call.

Dolphins star QB Tua got concussed on Sunday (they called it a 'back injury') was allowed to play Thursday night and then this happened.

NFL lead the way in a lot of things - not in regards to concussion management.

This makes me think of Any Given Sunday and how James Woods played the rogue doctor.